John of Hazelgreen
No: 293; variant: 293C
- As I gaed out in a may morning,
Afore that I could see,
And there I heard a pretty fair may
Making sweet melodie.
She was making sic melodie,
I wonderd what she could mean;
But ay she sang and sang about
Sweet John o Hazelgreen.
- 'O what na man is Hazelgreen?
Fair may, pray tell to me.'
'He is a stout and a tall young man
As in a' the South Countrie.
He is a stout and a tall young man,
And comely to be seen;
But still O I maun weep and wail
For John o Hazelgreen.'
- 'Hold your tongue, fair maid,' he says,
'And let your weeping alane;
I'll marry you to my eldest son,
And you shall be ca'd my dame.'
- He has tane her on ahint him,
And fast he spurred the steed;
For Edinbro town he there was bound,
Where they soon came wi speed.
- He's tane her to the Luckenbooths,
Coft her a braw new gown,
A handsome feather for her hat,
And a pair o silken shoon.
- He has tane the fair may up again,
And fast awa rode he;
For Hazelgreen now he was bound,
Her lodging there to be.
- She jumped aff frae ahint him,
As fair as any queen;
'Come down, come down, Lord John,' he says,
'And welcome your lady hame.
- 'It is the tall and comely youth,
Sweet John o Hazelgreen;
If we canna see it bridal-day,
It shall be bridal-een'